Weeder



E. COBURN July 23, 1940.

WEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5, 1958 E. COBURN July 23, 1940.

WEEDER Filed July 5, 1938 2 SheetS-Shee 2 :inventor Gttorneg( Patented July 23, 1940 !-U-NlTEDr-'STATBS iaxlr;NTA @FFI 2212,V

i `Ernest `Coburn,` Spokane, Wash., assigner,` by f .3;

mesne assignments, to Walla Walla Iron Works, Inc., Walla Walla.,4 (Wash.

Application July 5,`1938#SerialiN0.?217,3'76` 'I H y a claims. (C1. :rr-42) My present invention relates to improvements in weeders and more particularly to weeders of "therotary rod traction operated type employing "arotating rod' designed to rotate beneath the .soilV surface to removeweeds or other plants growing in the soil.

` 'Ihe rotary rod is generally of `a polygonal shape Vin cross-section and is rotated in a direction @counter-clockwise to `the direction Voi thelvehicle The weeder also performs the func-tion of forming a mulch on the ground surface which mulch is conducive to a retention of moisture by the soil.

Theprimary purpose of this invention isto provide aI weeder in which substantiallyall of the weight of the main frame, the elevating frame, and the drive frame, is imposed or bears on the rotary rod to insurethe operation of the rod at vthe desired depth below the ground'surface."

In the propulsion of lthe implement, Ihave also provided `draft means for the weeder located `in such` a manner that the' pull from the power `vmeans will tend to force the rotary rod lower into the soil, rather than to tend to elevate the rod.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example ci the physical embodiment of my invention according to one mode I `have thus far devised, but it will be understood that changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure-within the scope ofthe Iinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

` Figure lis a topplan view of the weeder of Amy invention.

)Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional fview of the rweeder takenalongline 2-2 of Fig- ,"ure l,"

Figure 3 is anr enlarged side elevation ofthe weeder looking to the right in `Figure 1, and showing the driving mechanism.

`Figure 4 is a partial rear elevation showing the power transmitting mechanism for the rotary rod.

` Referring 'nowto the drawings, the supporting y Awheels `of the weeder are illustrated `as I and` I.

,Iifdesired the wheel I maybe provided with bearings 3 and 4', to maintain the wheels in properly adjusted positions. The shafts and their 'having shoes I5 at their lower ends f adapted to penetrate the soil surface.

member II, by means y y J. bearings are inserted into'the opposite ends of the-tubular axle; and the set screws 5 are threaded throughawall Vof the tubular axle for engagement with the respective bearings.

The implement may be 4propelled by a tractor ""5 or other suitable meansl coupled at thefront `thereof and the axle Eis provided with two integral depending hitchesor draft armsi' each `having a series of I holes Btherein` in order that bcrsris the rearcross `bar II; and intermediate i6 frame members I2 strengthen and brace the "rec- -tangular frame structureV and support the short central cross'bar I3` of thermain frame of the implement.

Extending downwardly and rearwardly iromsgo each of theintermediate frame members I2 I mount a goose neck arm I4 -of the usual type which are The main frame is thus pivotally supported byqza on the concentric stud-shafts 2 2 so thataforward pull on the draft armsl--l dependingfrom the tubular axle will tend to swing the main frame downwardly at the rear of the axle Thusogo as indicatedin Figures 2 and 4. I .35

To `provide rear supports for theweederf employ a pair of caster wheels It-IG journaled on the U-shaped yokes II--II each having a ver tical pin I8-I-8` journaled in a bracket frame 2li-20 .pivotally secured ai; its ends on the frameum of an angle bracket` 2li-2| On the bracketgframe 2li- 20 I rigidly secure vertical arms 23-#23 `having pins 2li-JM slidable y in slots 25-25 rof the lever arms 2li-25.

. v `45 The two elevating arms 265-26 arelrigdlysecured Von the elevating shaft 21 whichfis pivotally mounted in the journals 25J-28 on the rigid supporting arms 2.9--29 of the ymain` frame -extending rearwardly from the central frameV membem'go .w j g An operating lever 30 is secured in rigid manner with the shaft 21 for elevating the frame and the supported structure on pivots 22--22.

In order that the frame and supported struc" 55 et 49 rigid with the shaft 48 is mounted inter- The transverselyV extending rotary rod 31B mounted in shoes I5 by means of journals 33 rotatably secured in the said shoes. At its right end in Figure l, the rod extends well beyond the wheel in order that a path of maximum Width; may be cultivated.

At its left end in Figures 1 and 4, the rodisI provided with, and connected to, a universal joint 40 of any suitable construction,Y and they universaljoint in turn, is attached to a connecting rod 4|. 'Ihe rod 4| is connected with another universal joint 42 which in turn has adriving connectionwith the` shaft 43.

This shaft 43 carries a sprocket wheel 44 and isjournaled in lsupporting brackets 45--45 depending` from one end of the parallel arms .4 6-46. Near the other ends thereof these parallel arms are secured to a pair of brackets 41-41 mounted on. anV extension shaft 48 of the shaft 2 and alined with the tubular axle 6. A driving sprockmediate the brackets 41--41 and the opposite ends of the parallel arms 46-46carry a shaft 5B journaled therein. The sprocket wheel 50' is mounted on the latter shaft. Also journaledon this shaft 5U, I employ a pair of pivoted vtension arms 5|-5l having mounted therebetween adjacent their upper or free ends, a shaft 52 anda sprocketwheel 53.

The sprocket chain 54 engages the wheels 44, 49, 5U and 53` and thus provides the means of powertransmission between the ground engaging wheel and the rotary rod 38.

Between the free ends of the tension arms 5|-5I and a clip 55 secured to the rear E end of arm l I mount a tension rod 56 having a spacing collar 51 rigid therewith. Between the lcollar 51 and the clip 55 is interposed a coiled spring 58,. and exterior of the clip 55, the threaded end of the rod 56 is provided with an adjusting nut S. The tensionrod, whenproperlyadjusted `as by the relative position of the nut 59, provides for the maintanance of the sprocket chain ina taut condition due to the pressure exerted against the tension arms 5|-5I and the sprocket y Wheel 53 carried thereby.

In operation; the tractor or other source of Ymotive power is properly connected to the hitch nico 1, employing one of the holes 8.

When the depth of the weeder operation has been determined the lever 30 is detached from .the arm 34 and is permitted to be elevated by the weight of the frame, and the frame and the depending shoes and the rotary rod. When the position has been reached at which the desired depth of cultivation will be carried out, the lever 30 through its pin 31 is secured to arm 34 by Vmeans of one of the holes 35 therein.

The caster wheel yokes, being pivotally secured to the frame member at 22-22 are elevated or lowered with the frame, and the caster wheels, of course, remain in contact with the ground.

The tension of the sprocket chain is then adjusted to the desired degree by operation of the nut 59 on the rod 56.

When the weeder is pulled forwardly, the wheel drives the sprocket 49 and the chain 54. The wheel 44 is driven in a direction counter-clockwisegi to the 'directionfof fthe.movement of the wheel and imparts thet same directional movement to the connecting rod 4I and the weeder rod 38. The weeder rod thus moves in a direction counter-clockwise to that of the implement wheels.

Due to-thedact that the mainlaxle 6, is tubular, a minimum vof weight is located forward *of the weeder rod 38, and substantially all of the weightof the implement is carried by the weeder rod and the shoes. The caster wheels serve only to maintain the weeder rod from penetrating into-the soil beyond the predetermined,

desired depth. Y

It `isV therefore apparent that the forward movementof ,the implement will tend t'o lower the weeder vrod and the'sh'oes into the soil tothe point permitted by the previous adjustment of the operating lever 30.

I'he location fof l position below the tubular axle 6 is also of value in tending to lower`the rod and' shoes into the soil but it will be apparent that the primary cause of the proper functioning of the weeder and-'rod is thel location and centralization of the supported weight to the rear' of the vaxle 1i,l and on the Weeder rod and shoes.

` Having. thus fuuy described 4my invention,

what I claim as new and desire'to secure byLetters Patent isi l 1. Iny a rotary lrod weede, the'zcombination with a pair of'fro'nt tractionfwheels' a mainy frame havinga concentric pivotal support on the wheels and extending rearwardly thereof, a rotary rod mounted at the re'ar of the mainv frame, and vehicle-actuated mean's'for rotating said r'od, of a pair of spaced yokes hinged at their front ends to the main frame at the rear of the front wheels and swiveled caster wheels mounted in said yokes, a rock-shaft' journaled inl bearings on the main frame, a pair of slotted arms mount- `ed on and projecting rearwardly of thel rock shaft, a pai'rvof fulcrum brackets rigid with the yokes and having fulcruml pins' co-acting' with the slotted varm'syan4 adjusting leverrigid with the rock shaft," a post on the mainframe, a link pivotedl on'the post, andldetachablemeans for fastening. vthefree end of -said link' to the lever.

2. In aA rotary rod weeder, the combination with a main frame'having a'front pivotal supthe hitch 1 in: itsdepending e port, and a rotary rod mounted on the rear-"of the main frame; of an adjusting'frame, a pivotal support on the'mai n frame,and caster wheels swiveled in said .fram6, 1everoperated mechamsm having a fulcrur'nconnection with theA main frame at the rearof the pivotal support ofthe adjusting frame ,.an adjustable pivotal connecthe adjusting frame rlocated back of the `fulcrum connection', and vmeans' for. holding. the levervtion between the lever-operated mechanism and 

